Chair back ob rest



W, J. JOHNSON El' AL Aug. s, 1933. CHAIR Bm OR'REST Re. 18,913 ssheets-sheet 1 Original Filed July 14. 1927 WaZErC/ w. J. AJol-mscnl ErA1.

v(HiAIR BACK 0R REST Re. 18,913 Original Filed July 14, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 2 mil!!! Aug. s, 1933.

y w. J. JOHNSON Erm.

CHAIR BACK 0R REST Original Filed July 14, 1927- :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Au@s, 1933.

UNITEDQSTATES"PATIENT orifice CHAIR BACK OR REST .Walter J. Johnson,Evanston, and Arthur L.

f Johllsh, Oak Park, Ill.

Original No. 1,769,294, dated Jllly 1, 1930, Serial No. 205,701, July14, 1927. v Application for lreissue May 5,1932. Serial No. '609,542

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-15'1) This invention relates to chairs in general andparticularly to a chair back or rest. More specifically the invention isdirected to a chair back or support for use in connection with a stenographers chair in which there is arranged a lumbar support for the smallof the back.

In chairs as heretofore constructed', it is the `usual practice toadjustably mount the forked arms or uprights at the back of the chairbutl the back pad or back member carried by these uprights does notaccurately iit the back of th user and when the uprights are adjusted,th

angularity of the back is altered in` such a ma ner as to causediscomfort. I

This invention is designed to`overcome the defects noted above andobjects of such invention are to provide a novel 'form of chair backwhich is s o made that although thepuprights maybe adjusted, asrequired, that nevertheless, the chair back will automatically adjustitself to the exact needs of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair having a backsupport which is tiltable rearwardly relative to the chair seat andwhich has a lumbar back rest pivotally connected to -the back support soas to bring the back support intmproper supporting positionrelative tothe small of theback of a user during occupancy of the chair. l/

Another object is to provide a lumbar back support or rest whichispivotally lconnected to a supporting member, the lumbar support or restbeing bowed or curved outwardly toward the front of the seat in avertical plane and curved or wed outwardly away from the seat in ahorizotal plane. A.

'Still another object is to provide a lumbar back rest which is movableverticallyA relative to the chair seat so as to be adjusted in height`to fit the small of the back of a user and which is pivotally connectedto an upright supporting vertical position when the operator leaves hislseat, and which instantly adjusts itself to his exf ac t requirementswhen the chair is again occupied.

Further objects rare Vto .provide a novel form of chair back in whichcontactwith any bony portion of the body is wholly avoided and the chairback is so contoured and formed that it fits around the back of theuser' without binding against any portion of the back bone, butfurnishes the requisite port for the back at the small of the back. W r't ismost needed, and which although provided with a rigid frame, may beso padded and formed that a yielding cushionlike structure is attained.i

' Embodiments of the invention are the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the chair back. Figure 2 is a sectionalview on the line 2--2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 vis a sectional view on theFigure l.

Figure 4 is ,a view from the front of the chair back with the cover andpadding removed and with parts broken away.v

Figure is a sectional view oifikthe line 5-.-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure'4.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a chairequippedwith the back.

shown lin line 3-3 of Figure 8 is a front view of the upper portion ofmembers '1, a top 2, and a bottom member 3. It

isto be noted particularly from Figure 2, that the bottom member ismaterially larger and heavier than the top member and thatthe side'members 1 taper towards the bottom a gradual manner. This latterconstruction is shown most clearly in Figure 5, from which it will alsobe seen that the members are curved, particularly the side members 1, sothat they arch outwardly ,or forwardly, as shown.

It is to be noted also thatthe top and bottom members are inwardlycurved, or in other words; are arched rearwardly; for example, thebottommember`3v has been shown in Figure 6 to bring out this construction.vlllpair of cross straps 4 and 5 of marginal frame members, justdescribed, and

member in inelastic material may be secured to the front face of the'these inelastic 'strap members are covered by an inelastic member 6,positioned in front of the inelastic straps,' as shown in Figure 4.These inelastic members are freely yielding and when l tures 10 @d iscarried by aback support comlin Figures 2 and 3.

as measured along a vertical line and shown in, Figure 2. The rearward'bowing of ,the inelastic members 4, 5, and 6 prevents any furthersagging of these members, as the component of their pull is forwardlyand thus a further deflection of them is prevented. In other words, thepadding is not interposed with the cover bowed very far outwardly andthe back members straight, but is so positioned that the back membersare bowed rearwardly and the cover is substantially straight except fora slight bowing as measured along a vertical line and described above.

It is to be noted particularly that the padding 7 or lling, extendsbetween the marginal frame and the cover and gradually tapers outwardlyor thins as the side edges of the marginal frame are approached, as isclearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.Y The thickest. portion of the paddinglocated centrally where, it is most needed. A

It is to be noted particularly that the bottom member 3 arches upwardlyadjacent its center,

as indicated by the reference character-9 in Figure 4, so that the backis provided with an upwardly cut bottom edge and with downwardlyextending corners. shown in Figures 1 and 8, and it is to be noted thatthe construction Vis such that the corner portions extend a slightvdistance around the sides of the operator at the fleshy portion of hisback and removed from the spinal column. At

the spinal column the back is cut upwardly, as

described above, so as to avoid any cutting at this point. In additionto the padding interposed between vthe marginal frame and the coverguards agamst this undesirable effect.

The net result of this construction is that there is no uncomfortablecutting or binding of the 'back of the seat against the back of theuser,

'tomportiom bringing the center of gravity at a. point spaced" amateriai' distance below the axis of the apertures 10.v A pivot bar orrod 11, Figures 7 and8, is passed through these aperprising the spaceduprights or upwardly extending arms 12. Thus, the back is pivoted aboutan VLaxisuspaced above its center of gravity and is consequently. a fulloating back which freely adjusts itself Vtogthe Aexact requirements ofthe user. always aztomatically returning to approxi-V mately verticalposition when the chair is not This form of'the back is alsoY occupied,so that it is in a position adapted for instant use without anyadjustment on the part of the operator.

Various means may be employed for supporting the end of the rod 11. Inthe form shown in Figure 8, a pair of knobs or sleeves 13 are screwedupon the threaded outer ends of the rod 11, it being noted that suchthreaded ends are reduced to provide shoulders 14 adjacent" the edges ofthe back of the seat.V Furthenit is to be noted that a lock nut in theform of a washer 15 is screwed tightly against these shoulders and thesleeve of the bearing member 13 is screwed tightly 'against the locknut. Thus, the spacing between the enlaiged head of the sleeve orbearing member 13 and the lock nut 15 is xed and this spacing isslightly greater than the thickness of the uprights 12. Thus, there canbe no binding at this portion of the structure and the bearing members13 freely turn within the apertured portions of the uprights12. It ispreferable to provide each headed portion of the bearing members 13 witha screw driver receiving slot, as shown in Figure 7.

The uprights 12 are adjustable and yieldingly held in anydesiredposition relatively to the seat 16 in any usual or customary manner. Thedetails of this construction have not been shown as it may beconventional. Further, it is desirable to pivotally and yieldingly mountthe seat upon the head 17 of the screw 18 in the customary manner.

The uprights 12 are arched rearwardly at the point indicated by thereference character 19- .sc as to comfortably accommodate the userwithout any chance of binding against his body, s0 that the entireforward thrust against the body of the user is borne by the fullfloating completely padded back. Thus, users of widely differing buildsor physiques are accommodatedby this' self-adjusting type of chair andthe utmost comfort is attained.

Referring to the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 9, 10,and 11, it will be' of the screws 23, see Figure 10. Y

Further, it is to be noted .that the clip is provided with a pair ofvforwardly projecting apertured tongues 24 which receive the horizontalpivot rod 25. 'I'his rod 25 may be either pivotalLv carried by thetongues 24 or else may be socketed within the bearing members 26securedl to the sides 27 of the chair back. It is to be noted that theupright 20 is curved, Figure 10, to provide room foi the swinging ofthebottom 28 of the frame for the back. The top 29 of the frame can swingover the upper end of the upright 20. It is apparent that by having therod 20 rigidly carried by the tongues 24 that lateral shifting of theback cannot occur. The members 26 are inset in apertures formed in thesides 27, as shown; and are provided with projecting feet through whichscrews or tacks pass, as shown in Figure 10. The back or lumbar rest,Figures 9 and 10, comprises a frame having spaced side members 27 andbottom and top members 28 and 29Y respectively. The bottom 4and topmembers are curi-'ed Quixtar-5, hat is, away rozn the seat, in ahorizontal plane but bow inwardly toward the chair seat in a verticalplane. The side members 27 conform with the general contour of thebottom and top, that is, the side members at their upper and lower endsmerge with or become ush with these two members and bow inwardly towardthe seat, as clearly shown in Figure 10.

It will be seen that a full oating automaticalf 1y adjusting back hasbeen provided which is formed in a novel manner and which wholly avoidsany possibility of cutting or other discomfort to the user.

The invention provides an exceedingly comfortable chair having anupright back supportto which a lumbar back rest is pivotally connected.The back support, whether it constitutes the spaced uprights 12 or asingle upright 20, is tiltable rearwardly relative to the seat, that is,the back support moves away from the seat when pressure is appliedthereagainst and returns to normal vertical position by springs. Theback l rest is bowed outwardly in a horizontal plane and bowed 'inwardlyin a verticalplane so as to t the small of the back of an occupant.'I'his back rest is pivotally connected to thev back support and pivotsabout a horizontal axis, thereby adjusting itself tothe position of theoccupant.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of theparts without de` parting from the spirit of the inventionY orsacriiicing any oi'A its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved tomake all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the followingclaims.

'I'he invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A back construction for a chair comprising a rigid marginal framehaving a top, side members, and an upwardly and rearwardly curved bottommember, said bottom member being larger than said top, said side membersbeing tapered y and being forwardly arched, an inelastic backingv membersecured to said frame on its front face and being rearwardly bowed, aexible front cover wrapped around the edges of said frame and securedthereto, and a yielding padding interposed between said backing memberand said cover and between said frame and said cover, said padding beingthickest adjacent the center of the back and gradually thinning attheedges of said frame, the said cover being substantially straight alonghorizontal lines adjacent its center and being slightly bowed forwardlyalong vertical lines.

2. In chair construction,a back comprising a rigid marginal frameVhaving a top, side members and bottom member, said side members beingtapered and forwardly arched, means for pivotally mounting the framewith its pivoted axis located above its center of gravity, an inelasticbacking member secured to said frame on it front face and beingrearwardly bowed, a ilexible front cover wrapped around the edges ofsaid frame and secured thereto and a yielding padding interposed betweensaid backing member and said cover and between said frame and saidcover, said padding being thickest adjacent the center of the back andgradually thinning out the edges of said frame, the said cover beingsubstantially straight along lines adjacent its center and beingslightly bowed along vertical lines.

3. The combination of a chair having a seat, a support fastened to theunderside of the seat, upright supporting means fastened to the supportby a pivot beneath the seat whereby the supporting means is pivotallymounted in respect to the seat and yieldingly mounted relative to theseat so as to yield rearwardly with respect to said seat, and a lumbarback rest pivoted about a horizontal axis and connected to the uprightsupporting means, said back rest being free to pivot on its axis in avertical arc on each side of a plane perpendicular to the seat wherebyto provide a bating back for said chair adapted to support the back of aperson sitting in said chair in all sitting postures.

' WALTER J. JOHNSON. ARTHUR L. JOHNSON.-

